Ursula Andress

Ursula was born on March 19, 1936 in Switzerland and grew up in a family of eight. She is the daughter of a diplomat father and a Swiss-German mother. Ursula left Switzerland at 17 with an older Italian actor, moved to Italy and obtained bit parts in theatrical comedies due to her physical dimensions. One of her boyfriends, Marlon Brando suggested she try her hand at acting in America. She signed with Columbia and landed boyfriends more than movie parts.

Ursula found solace in John Derek a fading actor who bought her Columbia contract and kept her from performing for over six years. Ursula was very unhappy with this situation and returned to acting in 1962. She landed the role of Honey Ryder one of the first official Bond Girls in Ian Fleming's Dr. No. Her fierce independent acting style proved she could be an awesome combination of lush sexuality, athleticism and strict Germanic reserve. Do No earned Ursula a 1964 Gold Globe Award.

Ursula acted in 4 For Texas (1963) with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, Elvis Presley in Fun in Acapulco (1963) and in Nightmare in the Sun with Sammy Davis, Jr. Robert Duvall, and Keenan Wynn. Unfortunately with her stature and statistics Ursula garnered more attention for a 1965 Playboy spread than for any of her films.

Ursula revived her Bond girl role in the spoof Casino Royale in 1967 and played in a spaghetti Western Red Sun with Charles Bronson. She continued her career as a sultry sex goddess in Clash of the Titans with Harry Hamlin. Ursula and Harry had a stormy relationship that produced one son, Dmitri in 1980.

Ursula has retained her image as one of the 100 sexiest stars in film history. On May 18 2006 Ursula Andress enjoyed herself on her 70th birthday on the Royal Yacht Britannia with her international and American film compatriots.